Different types of festivals

 

A festival is a gathering of people to celebrate something, often a religious event. It is a means of bringing people together, and to ensure social interaction in the community. We usually associate festivals with religious events, but in the recent years, festivals have expanded beyond being just religious. Along with religious festivals, we now have food festivals, music festivals, carnivals and so much more! Let us have a look at the types of festivals celebrated around the world.

Religious festivals

As the name suggests, religious festivals are centered around a religious event. The main attractions of these festivals are religious rituals and elaborate feasts. They symbolise victory of good over evil and rebirth. Some of the religious festivals celebrated around the world are Diwali, Christmas, Songkran festival, Semana Santa and Hanukkah.

Arts festivals

 Arts festivals celebrate all forms of art from around the world. It is something that has come into existence in recent years, but is celebrated with vigorous spirit around the world. Almost, if not every aspect of arts has a dedicated festival to it.

Cannes, Berlin and Sundance Film Festivals are some of the biggest film festivals in the world. Celebrated annually, these festivals films from all genres- noir, mystery, romance, thrillers and short films.

Some of the festivals celebrating music are Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California, Glastonbury festival in England and Meadows in the Mountains (MITM) festival in dreamy Bulgaria.

For comedy, there is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Glasgow International Comedy Festival (Europe’s Largest comedy festival) and Just for Laughs in Montreal, Canada (Also the largest comedy festival in the world).

Looking for something that brings the best of all worlds of art? The Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland has got you covered. Attracting visitors globally, it brings stellar performers from the worlds of music, dance, theatre and opera to perform.

Carnivals

 Carnivals are celebrated before the beginning of the Christian month of Lent. During Lent, one is abstained from indulging in meat and wine and any other luxuries for around a month. So the carnival is a means of indulgence before the Lent begins. During carnivals, you can find streets lined with vendors selling food and drink, elaborate performers, fun rides and masked people celebrating with full vigour.

The Viva Carnival in the Indian state of Goa, the Carnival at Rio and the Mardi Gras in New Orleans are some of the carnivals celebrated around the world.

Food festivals

 Ah, my favourite! The festival which makes people say, “diet? What diet?” These festivals celebrate food and drink, one of the simplest joys of human life. It is where appetising, flavourful and out-of-the-world dishes are only a bite away. Every food lovers paradise, food festivals leave you with a full belly and satisfied appetite.

The city that never sleeps’ very own food festival- NYC Wine and Food Festival is a four day extravaganza involving food, wine (of course!), seminars and every who’s who from the food and wine industry.

The NASVI National Street Food Festival in Delhi brings the guilty pleasures of all Indians - that’s right, street food from all over India to a single place. From pav bhaji, litti chokha, ghewar, jalebi, biryani and kulche chole, to rava idli, dosa, irachi pathiri, and gongura pachidi - you name it, they have it. It is a wonderful celebration of street food from all over India.

Changing of seasons

In olden times, every change in season was celebrated. Celebrations involve produce grown in the particular season.

Vasant Panchami marks the beginning of spring in the Hindu calendar. It is celebrated by Indians globally. People wear yellow coloured clothes to mark the harvest of mustard.

Halloween is celebrated in the month of autumn. Children dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating. Pumpkins are carved and houses are decorated in a spooky fashion.

Well, I hope this post enriched your knowledge about festivals and cultures around the globe. Until next time! Toodles!

Signing off,

Akshata😉